Orientations VOL 56 No.1 Jan/Feb 2025

The Tang dynasty (618–907) was a period that fostered cosmopolitanism, technological advancements, and artistic flourishing, resulting in robust trade and the exchange of ideas, religions, and culture. To celebrate sixty years of Franco-Chinese diplomatic relations, the Musée Guimet presents an exhibition showcasing artefacts from over thirty Chinese institutions. Highlights include treasures from the Hejiacun, Famensi, and Dingmaoqiao hoards, as well as recently unearthed wall paintings and other discoveries. 

Highlighted in this volume, the donation by Harish K. Patel of 150 silver pieces to the Birmingham Museum of Art significantly enhances scholarship on South Asian silver. Five examples are examined to shed light on silver’s role in promoting diverse goods and its enduring influence as a form of soft power.

FEATURES:

Arnaud Bertrand and Huei-chung Tsao. Tang China: A Cosmopolitan Dynasty
Nicolas Revire.  A Dated Maitreya Buddha From Tang Dynasty China at the Art Institute of Chicago
Christiaan J. A. Jörg. A Tang-Style Cup from a Viking Tomb
Catherine Zhu. Restoration and Reinvention in a Song Scroll 
Guilhem André. Between East and West: The Cup of Saint Sigismund and the Workshop of Guillaume Boucher 
Katherine Ann Paul. Silver and Soft Power in Late 19th Century South Asia
Melissa Gronlund. The Barjeel Art Foundation and the History of Modern Arab Art
Fletcher Coleman. Solace in Painting? Diasporic Artists and the Market for Conflict

EXHIBITION REVIEWS

Haoyang Zhao. The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture and Opulence

Softcover / 8.25" X 11.25" /92 pages